Vestas says it is teaming up with Abu Dhabi renewable energy company Masdar to launch Wind for Prosperity. According to Vestas, Wind for Prosperity will aim to provide energy-poor regions with hybrid wind and diesel power systems.

Under the partnership, Masdar will focus on managing the development and construction of Wind for Prosperity projects, while Vestas will focus on wind mapping, site design, and sourcing and refurbishing wind turbines.

"Many of the world’s most underserved citizens rely primarily on diesel generators for what power they have, which is expensive and polluting,” says Morten Albaek, Vestas Group senior vice president and chief marketing officer.

“Wind for Prosperity uses Vestas’ unique weather-data-processing capabilities to identify energy-poor but wind-rich areas where Vestas’ wind hybrid solutions can power social and economic growth.” However, Albaek notes that Vestas will make profits from the venture.

According to Vestas, the first Wind for Prosperity projects focus on up to 13 Kenyan communities that are home to more than 200,000 people. The company says these projects - being planned in coordination with the Kenyan Ministry of Energy, Kenya Power and Light Co., and various government agencies - are expected to supply electricity at least 30% below the current cost of power production based on diesel only.

Frontier Investment Management is actively involved in developing the Kenyan opportunity and, together with Vestas, is exploring potential Wind for Prosperity projects in other African countries.

Vestas says the Wind for Prosperity aims to install the hybrid power generation systems in 100 communities reaching at least 1 million people in the next three years. Additional opportunities are being explored in countries such as Ethiopia, Tanzania, Yemen, Pakistan, Vietnam and Nicaragua.